'Sometimes it's not just about the bakers in the tent, it's about the people in the UK who watch the programme.

'We want to encourage the viewers to bake. And it's worked, thus far. Everyone's got the baking bug, at some level.'

This series will also be a little more relaxed for Noel and Sandi, who certainly felt the pressure of following Mel and Sue last year.

Channel 4

'Last year we were under an enormous amount of pressure to not ruin this sacred show that everyone loved, so we weren't as worried about the bakers, we were just trying to make sure we didn't destroy our own careers,' Noel said.

Sandi added that the team, contestants included, 'all know each other much better' this year, while Noel described the new hopefuls as a 'nice bunch of bakers'.